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Making Christmas special for children harmed by crime

With the cost of living crisis hitting many families really hard we know some will be struggling to buy presents for their loved ones this year.

It’s why Cambridgeshire-based children’s charity Embrace Child Victims of Crime run its annual Dear Santa appeal to provide gifts of choice for children living in low income families whose lives have been torn apart by crime.

Last year, thanks to the generosity of supporters 1,478 children and young people received at least one gift to open on Christmas Day.

Dear Santa, which is now in its sixth year, is a unique campaign because it enables you to a buy gift for a child in need – knowing it’s a gift they have actually wished for – so your generosity will definitely make Christmas special for that child.

Many of the families cannot afford to buy presents for their children and for some it will be the only gift they get this year.

Anne Campbell, Chief Executive of Embrace CVoC, said: “Christmas should be a magical time of year for families but with the cost of living crisis we know many families are worrying how they are going to afford to buy gifts for their children this year.

“We work with families who are often doubly disadvantaged – their lives have been torn apart by crime and because of what’s happened they find themselves living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet.

“Nothing beats seeing the delight on children’s faces when they see gifts from Santa under the Christmas tree. 

“Dear Santa aims to help bring the magic of Christmas into their lives by making a Christmas wish come true for some of the most vulnerable children in our communities. 

These children come to us having suffered harrowing experiences they are struggling to comprehend.  We give them the support they need.

“Dear Santa gives these children a reason to smile on Christmas Day. We urge you to give generously and help us spread smiles this year.”

Each child referred to Dear Santa is asked to choose one gift up to the value of £35 that they’d really like to receive. We add all these gifts to Santa’s special wish list which is posted on our website and then we encourage our supporters to help make their wishes come true by purchasing a gift.

Embrace CVoC works with children who have suffered trauma because of crime. They may be grieving the loss of their mum, dad, brother, sister or other family member who has been killed by crime. They might have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse, violence or exploitation or have been living in a home torn apart by domestic violence. These children have had to deal with often unimaginable horrors in their young lives and agencies such as the police, social services or support charities refer them to Embrace CVoC to get the help and support they need.

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